The Korean War

The Korean War was a war that developed between the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). The United Nations supported the Republic of Korea, and the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union supported the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. At the end of WWII the Allies divided Korea along the 38th parallel. The United States occupied the south and the Soviets occupied the North. Elections failed to unify the two sections, and the 38th parallel became a line of division between communism and capitalism. On June 25, 1950 the forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea invaded the Republic of Korea.

The United States and United Nations forces, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, came to the aid of the South Koreans. The UN did not declare war, rather, they said it was a police action. At first, the North Koreans pushed the U.N. and South Korean forces down to the Pusan Perimeter, but the U.N. and South Korean forces pushed the North Koreans back almost into China. At this point the Chinese entered the war. They helped the North Koreans push the U.N. and South Korean troops back to the 38th parallel, where they remained until the ceasefire was signed on July 27, 1953.